Microfilarial polyarthritis in a massive Loa loa infestation. A case report

A Cameroonian affected with massive Loa loa infection developed febrile arthritis with involvement of both knees and the left ankle. Although the patient was first seen by us after one month of treatment with Indomethacin, at this time the joints were still inflamed and microfilariae of Loa loa were found in the synovial fluid. No other etiological mechanism was identified. Following the articular puncture and treatment with Ketoprofen, the arthritis subsisted within a week. This is the first case to be studied in which arthritis during loasis has been explicitly documented by the presence of intra-articular microfilariae.